Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget Hyde.
Hi Bridget, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Creativity has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I remember coloring, drawing, playing with play dough and also knitting at a young age – all have contributed to the development of my artistic ideas in adulthood. Although I worked in the corporate world for a lot of years, I enjoyed my creativity time on the weekends, primarily in acrylic painting and knitting. However, when Covid came in 2020, I had more time to explore new things like polymer clay and became fascinated with the versatility of the medium.
I love God’s creation and I began sculpting flowers and birds with the clay. As time went on, I really felt a desire to share my work at local shows and art festivals in the Minneapolis metro area. Last summer I was accepted and privileged to participate at Mosaics Fine Art Festival in St. Charles, Missouri, but a majority of my festival activity is in Minnesota. My goal is to engage with people through meaningful art that touches him or her sentimentally or is relatable through nature, and for people to not only connect with the creation, but also connect with The Creator.
Eventually, I embraced social media platforms and developed my own website. I continue to learn how to utilize these tools as a means to communicate with the public, but I prefer meeting with people in person. I see my future in art as one of expansion, as I have many more ideas yet to pursue in the not-so-distant future. My next goal is to incorporate acrylic paintings with polymer clay and merge the two mediums for a new and interesting body of work. So, stay tuned! The adventure is just unfolding!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Working independently certainly has its challenges! My journey in artistry is self-taught, with trial and error, and the help of a couple of mentors along the way. Entrepreneurship requires the wearing of many hats – it’s not just about making the art, but managing the marketing, making appointments, posting on social media, developing a website and all related things. It’s a good thing that I like variety in my day!
Applying to art festivals can also be challenging because most are juried shows, meaning you have to qualify to participate. There is so much competition today, so it’s important to be flexible and don’t take it personally. It’s just part of the process. It’s important to have multiple streams of income within the broad category of “art”. Examples would be selling original art, making prints from your art, wholesaling art to retailers, filling commission requests, teaching classes, applying art onto products, and so much more.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Currently I am focused on creating flowers and birds that are very textured, and I am also exploring the sculpting of other animals in nature. Three-dimensional pieces have been my primary work in creating wall art and decor, and at Christmastime I make sculpted ornaments. Polymer clay is not widely used for detailed artistry, especially for wall art, and there are few artists who create with this medium the way I do it.
Pet portrait painting is another way I create art for commissioned work. Having household pets, I value furry family members and love painting them. The work is not created in polymer clay, but in acrylic paint, using picture(s) provided by the family. I consider it a privilege to bring joy into a household by painting their pet for them.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
If you’ve read my website home page, you’ll already know this about my business name, Hyde Will Seek Artistry. To those who don’t know, my last name is Hyde, and when I was a kid I liked playing “hide and seek”. Loving creativity, I’m always seeking new and interesting artistry ideas and discovering how God will inspire me to utilize my artistry talents. God encourages us to ask, seek, & knock for doors to be opened, and I believe His promises are true. Combining these thoughts together gave me the name!
I’m so excited about the unfolding of my next body of work which is currently in the planning stages. I have not revealed the content to anyone yet, but my intention is to bring more meaningful and thought-provoking art pieces to my assemblage. I want to complement the artistry I’m currently doing, and eventually shift the body of work as it unfolds.
Pricing:
- • Very affordable smaller pieces can be in the range of $20.
- • Mid-sized pieces range from $75 – $500
- • Pet Portraitures range from $200 – $1,500+
- • New body of work will have higher price points
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hydewillseekartistry.com/#/
- Instagram: @hydewillseekartistry
- Facebook: @hydebridget
